Blog: A cost-effective way to surround yourself with tropical blooms!
This is the first year I’ve had a go at growing cannas from seed – previously, I’ve bought plants and propagated them by division. However, you can read more about caring for cannas and overwintering them on my how-to-grow page and propagating cannas.
The seeds I’m trialling this year are Canna Indica Large Flowered Hybrids from Fothergill’s, at £3.79 per packet. You can read more about them in my pick of their new seeds. Unlike many varieties which are too large for smaller gardens, these Large Flowered Hybrids only grow to 50cm, making them ideal for patio pots and easier to take under glass to overwinter. The lush green leaves set off the flowers in shades of yellow, peach, orange and red.
Growing Cannas from seed – easier than you think!
I did think this would be one of my ‘outliers’ for the season – seeds that I don’t have much faith in germinating and surviving. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. All you have to do is soak them in warm water for 24 hours before sowing (I didn’t even replace the water). I kept them on the heat mat at 21°C until germination, then moved them into a cooler position in the conservatory.
Germination was within a week, at a rate of more than 95 per cent. I now have 25 sturdy young plants – that’s just over 15p per plant! Try matching that in garden centres, where I bought a Tropicanna plant half-price at £8.49. Even a few years back, I invested in a bargain bare-root Canna Indica (purple leaves, red/orange flowers) for £2.99 at RHS Harlow Carr.
Growing Cannas from seed – overwinter your plants
I hate throwing plants away and try to overwinter anything I can. Cannas are tender perennials, so if you’re growing them, don’t chuck them at the end of the season. Bring the pots indoors into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or porch. In spring, repot them and water them to start their growth, hardening plants off after the last frosts. They should bloom until October or November if we have a mild autumn.
Try to mix Cannas with other tropical-looking plants. Try the dark-leaved Canna indica, elephant ears, and globe artichokes. All you have to think of is a contrast of leaf shape and colour.
